Ribbon mechanism for type-writers.



PATENTED JUNE 28, 1 904/ F. X. WAGNER. v RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1903. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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fink/4J4. W 65 A77'0HNEYS PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904 F. X. WAGNER. RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 22, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented June 28, 1904.

PATENT FFICE.

FRANZ X. \VAGNER, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.,ASSIGNOR TO UNDERVVOOD TYPEl/VRITER COMPANY, NENV YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,938, dated June 28, 1904.

Original application filed A ril 28, 1903, Serial No. 154,696. Divided and this application filed September 22, 1903. Serial To all 1117mm, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRAN z X. WAGNER, a citiborough of the Bronx, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ribbon Mechanism for Type-WVriters, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to type-writing and similar machines, and particularly relates to mechanism for actuating the ribbon usually employed in such machines.

This application embodies subject-matter divided from my application for patent filed April 28, 1903, Serial No. 154,696.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide a frame which is preferably pivoted at a point close to the general plane of arrangement of the key-levers, the pivot for said frame lying parallel to said plane and transverse of said key-levers. I prefer that the said pivot of said frame be located adjacent to the pivot or pivots of said key-levers. I provide a universal bar upon said frame remote from the pivot thereof and substantially parallel to said pivot and said general plane of arrangement of the key levers, which universal bar is adapted to be operated upon the actuation of any one of said key-levers. From this universal-bar frame I actuate the devices which feed the ribbon and place it in position for the impression of the type when a key is depressed and remove the ribbon to disclose the printed letter to the operator upon the release of said key. The novel form, disposition,

and combination of these devices constituting my present invention will be hereinafter fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation taken from front to rear at about the center of a type-Writing machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail of the ribbon-feed mechanism, showing the feed-controlling means. Fig. 3 is a similar detail showing one ratchet-and-pawl mechanism and portions of the universal bar and elbow-le- (No model.)

vers. Fig. 4is a detail side elevation of the ribbon-feed ratchet-and-pawl mechanism. zen of the United States, and a resident of the Referring to the drawings and noting Fig.

,1 thereof, the key-levers B are pivoted at B to the frame A of the machine, and a pin O uponthe key-lever B engages a slot in one arm of an elbow-leverC, which elbow-lever is fulcrumed at O upon the frame A. Upon a key-lever B being pressed its motion is imparted to its respective elbow lever O. Each of the elbow-lover's O has an upwardlyextending arm which is connected by a pinand-slot device with its respective type-bar or impression device D. Each of the elbowlevers C also has a rearwardly extending shoulder O which is normally in close proximity to a universal bar E and engages said bar E to operate it upon the depression of the proper key-lever. The universal bar E lies substantially parallel to the upper surfaces of the several shoulders O and transversely of said shoulders, as well as substantially parallel to the general plane of arrangement of the several key-levers B. The universal bar E forms the forward side of a universal-bar frame which also comprises arms E E, connecting the bar E with asleeve E which is substantially parallel to the said bar. The sleeve E is mounted upon a stationary rod 0, which is secured to the frameA, preferably near the pivots 0f the key-levers B, and forms the pivot for the universal-bar frame. The universal-bar frame is further provided with two upstanding arms E E", which are joined at the top by a top bar E. A small frame E mounted upon the bar E carries the escapement K, which may be of.

arm E projects forwardly, in which arm E" a vertical slot E is provided. A lever I is fulcrumed at I upon a bracket A of the frame A, one arm of which lever I carries a pin 1, which engages the slot E in the arm E". The other arm of the lever I is bent around and is pivotally connected with a vertically-movable central ribbon-guide J, which supports the ribbon adjacent to the printing-point, this ribbon-guide J being mounted for substantially vertical reciprocation in front of the platen upon the frame A. When a key-lever B is pressed, the universal bar E is operated, and the arm E", through the pin-and-slot connection, operates the lever I to carry the ribbonguide J upward to the printing position. The release of the key-lever permits the return of the universal bar and the ribbon-guide J.

The ribbon-feed mechanism, as shown, comprises two ribbon-spool holders P on spindles P, which spindles are driven through bevel or miter gears P from shafts P. Fast upon the shafts I are mounted ratchet-wheels P, which, as shown, may have their teeth pitched in the same direction, the opposing directions of movement being given the ribbon-spindles P by the unlike disposition of the bevel or miter gears P Feed-pawls O O are pivoted upon upstanding lugs at either end of the universal bar E, and one of them is normally maintained in active contact with its ratchet P by a spring Q. Retaining-pawls R are pivoted upon the frame A and pressed toward the ratchets I by springs S. The ribbon-feed mechanisms beyond the universal bar E are substantially duplicates, except in that the bevel or miter gears I are arranged to impart opposing directions of movement to the respective spools. Only one of these duplicate mechanisms may operate at a time, and therefore a suitable mechanism is employed to render one of them inactive. Thus I have shown a switch T, fulcrumed at the center of the machine at T and having arms T which extend over projections of the retaining-pawls R. WVhen one end of the switch T is depressed, it swings the retaining-pawl R at that end out of active contact with its ratchet. The retaining-pawls R are each provided with pallets R which extend in contact with their respective feed-pawls 0, so that the removal of a retaining-pawl It from active contact with the ratchet also removes its respective feed-pawl 0 from contact with said ratchet. This switch T may be locked by having a projection thereon engaging a series of notches on a frame portion A", or vice versa. When one end of the switch T is up, the other end is down, and thus only one set of pawls will be in operation at once. It will be seen that the rise of the universal bar E, carrying the pawls 0, one of which is active, will cause said pawl to feed the ribbon from that end of the machine.

By the improved construction hereinbefore described a simple, accessible, and effective mechanism is provided through which a very light touch is obtained.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a type-writer or other machine, the combination with key mechanism, of a universal-bar frame arranged to be operated by said mechanism, feed-pawls carried by said frame so as to swing therewith, ribbon-feed mechanism arranged to be actuated by said feed-pawls, and retaining-pawls carried by a stationary part and located adjacent to the feed-pawls.

2. In a type-writer or other machine, the combination with key mechanism, of a universal bar arranged to be operated by said key mechanism, lugs at each end of said universal bar, feed-pawls pivotally mounted on said lugs, a ribbon-feed mechanism arranged to be actuated by said feed-pawls, and retainingpawls mounted on a stationary support adjacent to the feed-pawls.

3. In a type-writer or other machine, the combination with key mechanism, of a universal bar arranged to be operated by said key mechanism, feed-pawls pivotally mounted at each end of said universal bar, retainingpawls pivotally mounted on a stationary support adjacent to said feed-pawls, a switch mounted in operative relation to all of said pawls and a ribbon-feed arranged to be actuated by said feed-pawls.

4C. In a type-writer or other machine, the combination with key mechanism of a universal bar arranged to be operated by said key mechanism, a ratchet ribbon-feed, feedpawls pivotally mounted at each end of said universal bar, means for bringing said feedpawls in active contact with said ratchet ribbon-feed, retaining-pawls pivotally mounted on a stationary support adjacent to said feedpawls, means for pressing said retainingpawls toward the ratchet ribbon-feed and a switch mounted in operative relation to all of said pawls.

5. In a type-writing machine or the like the combination with key mechanism, of a universal bar arranged to be operated by said key mechanism, a ribbon-feed, feed-pawls pivotally mounted at each end of said universal bar, retaining-pawls pivotally mounted adjacent to said feed-pawls and provided with pallets which extend in contact with the feedmy hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANZ X. W'AGNER. Witnesses:

JOHN LOTKA, EUGENE EBLE. 

